Self-closing closure for packages such as tubular containers or the like

ABSTRACT

A self-closing closure for tube containers and the like comprises a bellows-like element one wall of which having secured thereto a stud directed towards the opposite wall which has an outlet opening which in the closed position is covered by the stud. When a pressure is exerted upon the material within the bellows-like element the two walls will separate thereby uncovering the opening for discharging material.

United States Patent 1191 Nilsson SELF-CLOSING CLOSURE FOR PACKAGES SUCH AS TUBULAR CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Nils Billy Nilsson, Finnstugatan 30,

595 O0 Mjolby, Sweden [22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1972 [21] AppL No.: 215,549

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 5, 1971 Sweden 62/71 Jan. 5, 1971 Sweden 63/71 52 us. 01. 222/521, 137/494 [51] Int. Cl B67d 5/34 [58] Field of Search 222/521, 493, 514, 518,

222/525, 213, 495-497; 137/525; 239/534; 279/534; 220/44 A; 206/56 AA; 229/625 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,601,396 9/1926 Kalb 137/525 X 2,698,115 12/1954 Lacher 222/514 X 2,628,004 2/1953 Schlicksupp 222/514 x 1451 Apr. 30, 1974 6/ 1955 Schlicksupp 2,711,271 222/521 x 3,542,257 11/1970- Parish... 222/518 x 3,037,672 6/1962 c 611... 222/541 x 2,184,263 12/1939 Adlerl; 222 91 3,321,114 5/1967 Croyle... 222/514 x 3,221,952 12/1965 D6366..." 222/525 3,549,060 12/1970 Smylie 222/521 x 3,558,059 12/1968 Pfaft 222/213 x 3,598,285 8/1971 Stull 222/52 x 1,334,566 3/1920 Steinmetz 251/353 x 3,313,472 4/1967 Tjerneld et a1. 229 625 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A self-closing closure fortube containers and the like comprises a bellows-like element one wall of which having secured thereto a stud directed towards the opposite wall which has an outlet opening which in the closed position is covered by the stud. When apressure is exerted upon the material within the bellowslike element the two walls will separate thereby uncovering the opening for discharging material.

6 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures FATENTEDAPR 30 IQW- 3307;608-

SHEET 3 [IF 5 Fig. 72

PATENTEDAPR 30 m4 SHEET 5 BF 5 1 SELF-CLOSING CLOSURE FOR PACKAGES SUCH AS TUBULAR CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE This invention refers to a self-closing closure for tubular containers or the like.

The main object of the invention is to provide a closure of the kind referred to which automatically opens when a pressure is exerted upon the package to be emptied and automatically closes when said pressure ceases without the use of valveand spring assemblies.

To obtain these and other advantages the invention is carried out according to the accompanying claims.

The invention will now be described more in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which some exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated and in which FIG. 1 and 2 are sections through the parts of a first embodiment of the invention while FIG. 3 22 are similar views of various embodiments of the invention.

The closure as shown in FIG. 1 and 2 comprises two preferably saucer-shaped elements 1, 2, which are preferably made from plastic or similar material having resilient properties. The elements are intended to be connected to each other with their concave surfaces facing each other and for this purpose element 2 is provided with an external annular bead 3, which when the elements are connected to each other snap in a corresponding annular groove 4 in the element 1. The connection is facilitated when one of the elements is made from a more resilient material than the other. Element 1 also has a cylindrical collar portion 5, provided with internal threads by means of which it may be connected to a corresponding outwardly threaded portion of a collapsible tube or the like. The element 1 is further provided with a stud 6, which extends in a direction coaxial with the collar portion but is oppositely directed. An axial channel 7 extends within the collar portion and communicates via slots 8 with the space surrounding the stud 6. The element 2 is hollow and the numeral 9 designates the opening through which the content of the container may be discharged. Adjacent to this opening the element constitutes a seat for the free end of stud 6 such that the latter normally sealingly contacts said seat thereby preventing discharging. When however the content of the package is compressed, for example by a pressure applied to the package sides material flows from the package to the space between the elements via the slots 8. Owing to the resilient properties of the elements the closure will then be extended in its axial direction like a bellows, which causes the stud 6 to leave its seat near the opening 9, which in turn causes material to be discharged through said opening. It may be mentioned that the stud 6 need not be made integral with the element as shown but also as a separate part.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment just described in that the elements 1a, 2a are welded together. The slots 8 are substituted by circular holes 8a.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the upper part 11b of the stud 6b is provided with an annular groove 12b, into which the wall portions surrounding the opening 9b are urged. In this manner a transport locking is obtained which operates such that a higher pressure ought to be exerted upon the package the first time it has to be opened. When the wall portions have once leaved the groove they will not more reach it if they are not again pressed therein.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 differs from that according to FIG. 4 in that the collar portion has a finger grip 13c, adapted to facilitate the application of the portion 9c in the groove 12c.

As shown in FIG. 6 the closure may be secured to the package by means ofa snap locking instead of a thread.

According to FIG. 7 a collapsible tube or container l6e has a circular rolled edge portion 14e, engaging an annular groove 15e in the collar portion 52.

The embodiment shownin FIG. 8 is intended to be used with tube containers having a diaphragm closure. For this purpose the stud 6f is provided with a tip 17f, having a number of through holes 18]. The closure has at its lower part a number of projections 19f the purpose of which is toprevent the puncture of the diaphragm when the closure is first applied to the container. When .the closure is thereupon screwed or pressed downwardly to its operative position the projections will deflect thereby permitting the tip to puncture the diaphragm. The container is thenprepared for use.

The opening 9g may also according to FIG. 9 be covered by a diaphragm 20g, which may be removed by means of a knife or the like. The diaphragm may also according to FIG. 10 be provided with wings 21 h for turning the diaphragm.

- In the embodiment according to FIG. 11 the diaphragm 20g has been substituted by a separate diaphragm 20i, which has been adapted between the head lli and the collar portion 101'. This diaphragm may have a grip 21i to facilitate its removal.

FIG. 12 illustrates another transport locking. The stud 6j has a loose head 1 1 j. Immediately after the manufactu'ring this head Ilj loosely is received between the collar portion 10j and the stud 6j. A pressure exerted upon the package will thereby give a higher sealing pressure between the head llj of the stud and the opening 9j. When the closure is to be used thelocking bead 22j of the head llj is pressed into a locking groove 23j of the stud 6j.

FIG. 13 and 14 show a closure which may be used in connection with for example a spray gun for glue or the like. The stud 6k is provided with a thread 24k at one end and a screw driver slot 25k at its opposite end. The thread 24k cooperates with an internal thread of a cross member 26k of the lower collar portion 5k. Thus the screw tip may be used for puncturing of a diaphragm 27k. After the puncturing the stud is again screwed to the illustrated position in which material may be discharged from the package 16k via the holes 28k. By means of the thread 24k the closing pressure may be regulated as desired.

The closures described. above have been in the form of separate units, adapted to be secured to containers, but it is also possible to make the closure integral with the container. The embodiment according to FIG. 15 and 16 illustrates a closure of this kind. The package consists of a cylindrical plastic tube 101, which has been pressed flat and closed by' means of transverse seals 102 and 103. One of these seals 103'thereby only extends part of the width of the tube such that openings 104 and 105 at each side of the seal are constituted. Said seals are preferably in the shape of plastic welds.

Before the welding operation a stud 106 has been secured by means of a bottom plate 107. Facing the stud 106 at the opposite tube wall is an opening 108. When making the seals 102 and 103 the stud is brought into sealing engagement with the edges surrounding the opening 8. The package as shown which of course is also closed at its lower portion thus comprises an upper bigger chamber 109 and a minor chamber 110. To force material through the opening 108 it is only necessary to exert a pressure upon the bigger chamber 109. Material is thereby pressed through the openings 104 and 105 into the smaller chamber 110. The walls of this latter will then be pressed apart such that the opening 108 is freed for discharging material. When the pressure upon the chamber 109 ceases the walls of the smaller chamber automatically return to their initial position thereby permitting stud 106 to close'opening 108.

FIG. 17 illustrates a. package having a circular closure 102' and FIG. 18 illustrates apackage having an upper seal in the shape of two angularly disposed seals 102". FIG. 19 and 20 are further examples of various shapes of the upper part of the tubular container.

FIG. 21 shows a modified embodiment of the invention. A chamber 111 is here constituted by two diaphragm parts 112 and 113. In the chamber a stud 114 is provided, which by means of a bottom plate 115 is secured to the diaphragm part 112. An opening 117 is here normally covered by a head 116 of the stud 114. By means of a thread 118 or the like the unit thus generated may be connected to a collapsible tube.

As shown in FIG. 22 the head 116 of the stud may be modified by the arrangement of an annular groove 119', in which the portions surrounding the opening 117 may be pressed to obtain a transport locking of the kind described in connection with FIG. 5.

I claim:

1. A closure for packages having an outlet opening such as collapsible tubes or the like, the closure being self-closing as well as automatically opening when a pressure is exerted upon the material in the package and comprisingtwo parts each having a resilient sauoer-shaped wall, said parts having a collar portion capable of attachment to the package at the outlet openings thereof, said walls having their concave sides facing each other with said walls being capable of expanding and retracting both axially and radially, the wall of the other said parts having a centrally disposed discharge opening with an inner seat around said opening, the wall of said one of said parts having a stud extending towards said opening and seat and which in the closed position of the closure sealingly engages said seat closing said opening, said walls being mutually connected only along their peripheral edge portions providing a space between said walls, and said collar communicating with said space.

2. A closure for packages such as collapsible tubes or the like, the closure being self-closing as well as automatically opening when a pressure is exerted upon the material in the package and comprising two parts each having a thin and flexible saucer-shaped wall, both walls being substantially equal in flexibility and having their concave sides facing each other, one of said walls having a stud which extends towards said opening and which in the closed position of the closure with one part sealingly engages aseat arranged adjacent to said opening, said walls being mutually connected such that they are in contact with each other axiallyas well as radially and said walls being unsupported by other parts in said periphery region enabling the walls as a unit to freely expand or retract both axially and radially the space generated between said walls communicating via opening with the interior of the package.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of said parts thereof has an outer annular bead adapted to snap into a corresponding annular groove in the other of said parts.

4 A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stud adjacent to its free end has an annular groove into which wall portions surrounding the discharge opening may be forced.

5. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stud is arranged centrally in a circular chamber, which by means of one or more openings communicates with another chamber of the package.

6. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stud is arranged centrally in a triangular, rectangular or polygonal chamber, communicating by means of one or more openings with a bigger chamber of the package. 

1. A closure for packages having an outlet opening such as collapsible tubes or the like, the closure being self-closing as well as automatically opening when a pressure is exerted upon the material in the package and comprising two parts each having a resilient saucer-shaped wall, said parts having a collar portion capable of attachment to the package at the outlet openings thereof, said walls having their concave sides facing each other with said walls being capable of expanding and retracting both axially and radially, the wall of the other said parts having a centrally disposed discharge opening with an inner seat around said opening, the wall of said one of said parts having a stud extending towards said opening and seat and which in the closed position of the closure sealingly engages said seat closing said opening, said walls being mutually connected only along their peripheral edge portions providing a space between said walls, and said collar communicating with said space.
 2. A closure for packages such as collapsible tubes or the like, the closure being self-closing as well as automatically opening when a pressure is exerted upon the material in the package and comprising two parts each having a thin and flexible saucer-shaped wall, both walls being substantially equal in flexibility and having their concave sides facing each other, one of said walls having a stud which extends towards said opening and which in the closed position of the closure with one part sealingly engages a seat arranged adjacent to said opening, said walls being mutually connected such that they are in contact with each other axially as well as radially and said walls being unsupported by other parts in said periphery region enabling the walls as a unit to freely expand or retract both axially and radially the Space generated between said walls communicating via opening with the interior of the package.
 3. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of said parts thereof has an outer annular bead adapted to snap into a corresponding annular groove in the other of said parts.
 4. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stud adjacent to its free end has an annular groove into which wall portions surrounding the discharge opening may be forced.
 5. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stud is arranged centrally in a circular chamber, which by means of one or more openings communicates with another chamber of the package.
 6. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stud is arranged centrally in a triangular, rectangular or polygonal chamber, communicating by means of one or more openings with a bigger chamber of the package. 